Paté Island

Welcome to Paté Island

Paté is a tranquil island of green brush, silver tidal flats and coconut trees, bisected by red dirt tracks. You can walk over the island in about seven hours (excluding lots of stopping time for chats and cups of tea with locals).

As isolated from the modern world as Paté is, this was once the dominant island of the archipelago. ‘None who go to Paté returns; what returns is wailing’, goes one archipelago song. Whether this refers to military battles or the slave trade that was conducted through here is unknown, but the warning certainly doesn’t apply now – most people return from Paté with a peaceful smile.

You’re likely to experience great hospitality here – residents are either not used to tourists and consider them a happy novelty, or work in the tourism industry in Lamu and appreciate you making the effort to come all the way out here.

Practical information

I want emails from Lonely Planet with travel and product information, promotions, advertisements, third-party offers, and
surveys. I can unsubscribe any time using the unsubscribe link at the end of all emails. Contact Lonely Planet here. Lonely Planet Privacy Policy.